Election 2012

Sponaugle advances to primary

May 10, 2012

G. Isaac Sponaugle III got a nod of confidence from nearly 80 percent of Pendleton County Democrats and 46 percent of Hardy County Democrats on Tuesday to move forward in the 55th District House of Delegates race.

Sponaugle will face Republican Stephen G. Smith in the November general election. On Tuesday, Smith received 217 votes in Pendleton County and 613 in Hardy County. The two are contenders for the seat held by longtime incumbent Harold Michael, who retired this year.

"I want to thank all the voters who supported me and put their trust in me," Sponaugle said Wednesday morning. "I look forward to asking for everybody's vote in November."

Sponaugle received 1,086 votes in Pendleton County to John H. Treadway Jr.'s 280. In Hardy County, Sponaugle received 1,230 votes to Treadway's 1,468 votes.

Democrat Margaret Kerr Beckwith with 668 votes to Paul Louk's 378 votes won Pendleton County's Democrat nomination for the 11th District state Senate. She will face incumbent Republican Sen. Clark Barnes, who unopposed received 430 local votes.

In a close race for Pendleton County Commission, Randy Roberson with 641 votes won over Joyce Dahmer Burgoyne's 524 votes, Eddie A. Simpson's 291 and John Todd's 228. No candidate filed for the Republican nomination.

Unopposed Democrat Kevin C. Sponaugle will continue as prosecuting attorney if no contender files for the November ballot. No Republican filed in the primary election.

In the contest for sheriff, Democrat Gregory Chambers with 931 votes won over Nathan Beachler with 748. Chambers will face Republican Donald L. Hedrick, who received 343 votes, in the regular election in November.

In Pendleton County a total of 41.36 percent of the 5,503 total registered voters turned out for the primary. The Democrat turnout was 60.92 percent; Republican turnout, 32.65; and nonpartisan, .94 percent.